(Christian Hampton, from Northwest Guilford High School, told us four-five years ago, that his favorite basketball player was Ja Morant, and now look at what Ja Morant has done.)
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant named NBA’s Most Improved Player
from Adam Stites, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, the league announced Monday.
Morant, 22, is the first Grizzlies player to win the award after earning All-Star honors during the 2021-22 season. Morant received 38 first-place votes for the award, while only a few points separated Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs and Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers for second place.
Ja Morant is the first player to win the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award with the Memphis Grizzlies.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 25, 2022
Morant was told about the news at practice Monday.
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) April 25, 2022
Morant was the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and won Rookie of the Year honors when he averaged 17.8 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game in his first NBA season.
After averaging 19.1 points in year two, Morant emerged as one of the stars of the league this year with 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. He earned a starting spot in his first career All-Star Game and led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record, tied for the franchise’s best ever mark.
The Grizzlies are currently tied 2-2 with the Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round series in the NBA Playoffs. Morant has averaged 20.5 points, 10.8 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in the first four games. In Game 3, he recorded the first playoff triple-double in franchise history to help lead the Grizzlies back from a 25-point third quarter deficit to win.